LONDON: Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz said losing is “part of our life” after his surprise defeat to Briton Jack Draper in the round of 16 of the Queen’s Club tournament in London on Thursday.
Alcaraz, also the reigning Queen’s Champion, lost 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, giving the British number 1 the biggest win of his career.
World number two Alcaraz arrived fresh from his triumph at the French Open on the clay court of Roland Garros for this warm-up tournament for Wimbledon on grass.
But the 21-year-old Spaniard lost to 22-year-old Draper, who is trying to become the first British men’s singles champion at Queen’s since Andy Murray won his fifth title at the event in 2016.
Alcaraz, for whom it was his first defeat on grass in almost two years, stressed that he was “hungry to get better at Wimbledon”.
“Of course it’s hard to deal with the losses, but I think it’s part of our lives,” he said.
“We have to deal with it as best we can. After the defeats you have to take the positives and of course the negatives with you in order to improve for the next tournament.
“I have to compliment Jack. I think he played really good tennis today.”
Alcaraz begins defending his Wimbledon title on July 1 at the All England Club, just a few miles from Queen’s on the other side of London. The champion said he plans to stay in the British capital.
“I think the best way to get better on grass is to stay here, train with the players, do good physical things on grass and the movements, really specific things,” Alcaraz said when asked if he would return to Spain before Wimbledon.
“In Spain or at home we don’t have grass pitches or proper lawns to practice on.
Alcaraz added: “Right now I’m hungry to get better and train. That’s all I have to do.
“I’m really looking forward to starting at Wimbledon. Of course I really want to win every title I play for and I think Wimbledon is even more special.”
For 31st seed Draper, the stunning victory followed his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart last week and meant he became the first Briton to beat a top-two player on grass since Murray defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final.
Neither Alcaraz nor Draper managed a break point in the first set, which the British left-hander was finally able to win in the tiebreak.
Alcaraz fended off three match points on his own serve at 2-5 in the second set before Draper secured victory, a day after the 37-year-old Murray withdrew from the Queen’s tournament after just five matches due to injury.
“It was a really tough match,” Draper said. “Carlos is the defending champion, he won Wimbledon, he’s an incredible talent and great for the sport. I had to go out and play well and thankfully I did.”
Draper will next play in the quarterfinals against fifth-seeded American Tommy Paul, who defeated Chilean Alejandro Tabilo 6-3, 6-4.
There was another British success when wildcard player Billy Harris reached the last eight alongside Draper.
The 29-year-old journeyman celebrated being awarded his wildcard for Wimbledon – and guaranteed £60,000 ($76,000) – with a 6-4, 7-5 win over French qualifier Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Italian Lorenzo Musetti also reached the quarterfinals with a 6:4, 4:6, 6:4 victory over American Brandon Nakashima.